QC launches ‘Sagip Baga’

The Quezon City health department, in coordination with the Department of Health, USAID and the Philippine Tuberculosis Society, has launched the "Sagip Baga" project to provide medical assistance to patients affected by pulmonary tuberculosis in various barangays.

Dr. Maria Paz Ugalde, city health officer, said the program is line with Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr.’s health agenda to ensure delivery of basic health services to city residents particularly the urban poor which constitutes almost half of the city’s 2.4 million population.

In her report, Ugalde said the World Health Organization has noted that of the 15,000 identified active TB patients in the city, only about 800 have sought medical treatment.

"The Quezon City health department was chosen by the WHO to cut down the prevalence of TB," she said.

The Sagip Baga project includes the training of city health department personnel on monitoring and implementation of the anti-PTB drive.

The new project will complement the "Sagip Buhay" medical care program, which has benefited over 51,000 since it was implemented in September 2002. – Perseus Echeminada